Die layout apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for laying out a pattern upon a rotary die board. The apparatus includes a measuring member bearing a plurality of scales differing corresponding respectively to different predetermined degrees of foreshortening. An indicator traverses the measuring member in response to axial rotation of the arcuate die board.

United States Patent [1 1 Sauer et al. 5] Apr. 2, 1974 [5 DIE LAYOUTAPPARATUS 2,733,510 2/1956 Darago 33 23 R [75] Inventors: Louis E.Sauer; Orville C. Miller,

both of S1. Louis, Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian [73] Assignee:Centenary Central Inc., St. Louis, Asssmm Sheppard Mo Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Rogers, Ezell & Eilers [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:318,229 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for laying out a pattern upon arotary die board The apparatus includes a measuring I n u v v v u e I ee e v a [58] meld of Search 33/1845 21 ing respectively to differentpredetermined degrees of 33/23 18 20 77 foreshortening. An indicatortraverses the measuring b t l tat f th t Reerences Cited (rpiznozrdinresponse 0 axia r0 I ion 0 e arcua e 8 Claims, 8 Drawing FiguresBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally torotary die cutting and more particularly to a machine for laying out apattern upon an arcuate die board, whereupon the board may be worked, asby sawing or drilling, to receive cutting rule. The cutting rule extendsradially outwardly from the surface of the arcuate die board; hence,circumferential distances between cutting edges of the cutting rulenormally will be greater than the distances between corresponding pointswhere the cutting rule intersects the surface of the die board. Thus,circumferential distances between points of intersection of a cuttingrule with the arcuate die surface must ordinarily be slightly less thanthe corresponding die design distance measured circumferentially of theboard, and also less than the corresponding distances measured on thedesired product to be produced.

The art has accordingly attempted to provide means for accuratelyestimating the differences between distances as measured on a diepattern and corresponding circumferential distances between points ofintersection of cutting rule and an arcuate die surface. For example, inapplicants U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,716, means are described for deriving apattern containing foreshortened circumferential distances from anactual pattern of the planned product. U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,030 attemptsto solve the problem by employing, at one end of the arcuate die, a diskhaving a true measurement circumferential scale about its periphery, thediameter of the scale on the disk being the same as the diameter of thesharpened edges of cutting rule to be mounted on the die surface. In thelast-mentioned pattern, during the pattern-making operation, truecircumferential distances along the pattern of the desired product aremeasured along the circumferential scale using a pointer which traversesthe scale and a scribe which moves with the pointer and which isdirected radially inward toward the axis of rotation of the die. Sincethe diameter of the circle described by the edges of cutting rule issomewhat greater than that described by the die board surface,circumferential distances measured along the true circumferentialmeasuring scale will be translated into proportionately shorterdistances scribed on the surface of the die board.

In rotary die cutting art, sheets of cardboard or other workpiecematerial are fed between oppositely rotating die and anvil members. Itis known that during the cutting operation, the outwardly-extendingsegments of cutting rule normally extend into, and often actually cutinto the surface of a corresponding anvil. As such, the circumferentialdistance between the cutting edges of cutting rule is not necessarilyexactly the same as the corresponding circumferential distance measuredon the cut product. Experience has shown that trial-anderror methodsmust still be used for proper circumferential placement of cutting ruleon a rotary die surface. In other words, the degree of foreshortening ofactual circumferential distances is dependent not only upon therespective diameters of the die boardand of the cutting edges of thecutting rule extending outwardly therefrom, but is dependent also uponthe type of material to be cut, the speed of operation of the cuttingmachine, the depth to which the cutting rule extends into the associatedanvil surface, the diameter of the rotary die, etc. One experienced inrotary die cutting, however, may predict with sufficient accuracy thedegree of foreshortening which should be used when the variousparameters listed above are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the invention toprovide an apparatus for laying out a die design upon an arcuate workpiece with readily selected predetermined degrees of foreshortening.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusfor laying out designs on arcuate work pieces wherein foreshortenedcircumferential distances are measured by reference to measuring scalesadapted to provide predetermined degrees of foreshortening.

It is another object of the invention to provide a design lay-outapparatus for rotary dies which employs a plurality of selectablecircumferential distance scales differing from a true length scale bydifferent degrees of foreshortening.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a design lay outapparatus for rotary dies wherein the desired degree of foreshorteningmay readily be selected and wherein compensation for dies of varyingdiameters can be easily made.

' In general, the present invention relates to an apparatus for layingout a pattern upon an axially rotatable arcuate die work piece mountedupon a rotatable shaft, which includes means for physically applying thepattern to the work piece. The invention is characterized by theimprovement which comprises circumferential measuring means forautomatically measuring foreshortened circumferential distances on thedie surface. The circumferential measuring means comprises a measuringmember bearing a plurality of different scales each having distanceindicia thereon corresponding to predetermined foreshortenedcircumferential distances on the die surface. The circumferentialmeasuring means also includes indicating means responsive to axialrotation of the arcuate work piece to traverse the measuring member andindicate circumferential design distances thereon. The measuring memberis preferably an elongated member bearing a plurality of longitudinalscales, and most preferably is a rotatable, elongated tubular memberbearing axially extending longitudinal scales about its circumference.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the die layout machine, shown partiallybroken away;

F IG.,2 is a cross sectional view partially broken away, taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially broken away, showing the right end ofthe apparatus depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of the apparatus of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a cord tensioning device partially shownalso in the upper left-hand portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a scribing device shown also in FIG. 1and 4;

FIG. 7 is a projected, fragmentary view of a longitudinal measuringmember of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective, fragmentary view of an indexing device shownalso in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It its preferred embodiment, theapparatus of the present invention is adapted for mounting to the rotarydie sawing and drilling machine described in applicants U.S. Pat. No.3,507,179. The supporting structure of the machine, and structurerelating to the mounting or arcuate workpieces in the machine, sawingand drilling devices and the like are described in detail in thatpatent, and the same is incorporated herein by reference. This patentdescribes a rotary die sawing and drilling machine having supportingside frame structure between which are rotatably mounted shafts adaptedto carry axially-spaced disks upon which an arcuate die workpiece may bemounted, and a shaft parallel thereto upon which may be slidably mounteda sawing or drilling tool or the like.

The side frames of the machine shown in U.S. Pat. 3,507,179 are depictedin FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing hereof as 12 and 14 respectively.Mounted by bolts or the like to side frames 12 and 14 are upwardlyextending mounting frame channels 16 and 18 having inwardly extendingflanges 20 and 22. The upper ends 24 and 26 have apertures therethroughto rotatably receive the ends 28 and 30 ofa tubular, longitudinalmeasuring member shown generally as 32 and which bears a plurality ofdifferent longitudinal scales along its length. These scales aredesignated generally as 34 in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 and are shown in moredetail in FIG. 7, as will be subsequently explained. A relatively shortsleeve member 36 is slidably mounted about the tubular longitudinalmeasuring member 32 and has a central window 38 therein through which aselected scale along the length of the tubular member may be viewed.Window 38 is provided with a vertical hair-line 40 so that the precisescale reading corresponding to the lateral position of the sleeve 36along the tubular member 32 may be read. Indexing holes, designatedgenerally as 41 (FIG. 8) are located about the periphery adjacent oneend 30 of the tubular scale member. Carried by the upper end 26 offlange member 22 is a small supporting block 42 having an orifice 44therethrough and carrying therewithin retractable pin member 46 havinghandle portion 48, the pin member being adapted to extend throughorifice 44 and through an orifice (not shown) in the channel member 22and thence into registry with one of the indexing holes 41 adjacent theend of the tube member. Mounting block 42 may be equipped with a springretainer such that the pin may be retracted against spring pressure,permitting the tube member to rotate so as to bring a different,selected indexing hole into registry with the pin member, whereupon thepin member may be released to enter the selected indexing hole to holdthe tube member from further rotation. The holes 41 are arranged aboutthe periphery of the tubular measuring member such that when the pin 46is in registry with a selected hole 41, a predetermined longitudinalscale will be in registry with the window 38 of sleeve member 36.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,179, and as best shown in FIGS. 1and 4 hereof, an arcuate workpiece 50 is circumferentially mounted upondisk members 52 and 54 by screws or the like, which disk members in turnare carried upon rotatable shaft 56. The ends 58 and 60 of the shaft 56are journalled into side frames 12 and 14 of the machine such thatrotation of the shaft causes the workpiece to rotate about its axis ofrotation. Since the workpiece 50 ordinarily does not extend completelyabout the periphery of disks 52 and 54, its weight is counterbalanced bymeans of shaft 62 and movable weight 64 which are mounted radially to anend 66 of the shaft 56 which extends through frame member 14, as shownbest in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Shaft 70 (FIGS. 1,2 & 4) extends laterally between side frames 12 and 14parallel to but behind and above shaft 56. The ends of shaft 70 areprovided with geared end sections mounted in bearing blocks 72 which mayslide vertically in channels 74, the geared ends cooperating in rack andpinion fashion with teeth along an inner surface of channel 74 such thatshaft 70 can be moved up and down, all as shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,507,179. Shaft 70 is employed to carry a measuring and markinginstrument, or a saw or drill device, as shown in said patent.

Referring now to FIG. 6 herein, a scribe holder 76, having an elongatedneck portion 78, is provided with feet 84 on its lower surface which areadapted to ride upon shaft 70. Elongated neck portion 78 is providedwith an orifice therethrough in which may be mounted a scribinginstrument 80 such as pencil or pen locked in position with thumbscrew82. The scribe holder 76 is provided with a depending, transparentviewing lens 86 having a vertical hairline 88, the lens being supportedon the scribe holder by means of pin 90 having a manually turnable knob92. The pin 90 is threaded into the scribe holder such that manualrotation of the knob 92 causes the lens and hairline 86 and 88 to movelongitudinally of the shaft 70 a short distance.

To measure horizontal distances on the workpiece 50 traversed by thescribe 80, the shaft 70 is provided with a ruler 94 along its length,which in a preferred embodiment may take the form of a removable lengthof magnetized tape having distance markings thereon. Scribe holder 76 ispreferably of sufficient weight, and the feet 84 thereof preferablyengage the surface of shaft 70 with sufficient friction, so that theworkpiece 50 may be rotated about its axis of rotation to cause acircumferential line to be drawn on the workpiece surface withoutaffecting the position of the scribe holder 76 along shaft 70. Thedistance which the scribe traverses horizontally on the surface of theworkpiece may be measured by viewing the distance markings on rule 94through lens 86.

Sliding sleeve 36 is adapted to traverse the tubular longitudinalmeasuring member in response to rotation of the workpiece 50 about itsaxis of rotation. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of shaft 56extends through side frame 14 of the apparatus, as noted above, and theextended end is provided with a timing gear as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and4. Extending also through side frame 14 is a shaft 102 bearing on itsouter extremity 104 a removable timing gear 105 aligned with timing gear100, and bearing on its inner extremity 106 a sheave 108. A take-uppulley 110 is attached to laterally moveable slotted bar 112 which inturn is mounted to an outer surface of side frame 14 by handscrew 113. Atoothed timing belt 114 connects timing gears 100 and 105 and pulley110, the latter serving to maintain the belt in a taut condition. Itwill thus be seen that rotational movement of the workpiece 50 rotatestiming gears 100 and 105, movement of the latter gear also serving torotate sheave 108.

Carried by channel member 18 are pairs of small pulleys 120, 122 and124, 126. Mounted to the outer surface of channel member'16 is anoutwardly extending projection 128 having an outwardly extending slot130 therewithin. Bearing block 132 (FIG. 5) is movably attached toextension 128 by manually operable screw 134 which passes through thebearing block and through slot 130 and upon which is threaded nut 136.

Mounted to the top surface of bearing block 132 is pulley 138. Mountedto projection 128, in horizontal registration with but inwardly ofpulley 138 is pulley 140.

Pulley cord 142, which may be of aircraft cable or other relativelynon-stretchable material, passes around sheave 108 and thence upwardlybetween pulleys 120 and 122, thence around pulleys 124 and 126, andthence laterally through a small orifice suitably located in channelmember 16 and around pulley 138, such that movement of bearing block 132in an outwardly direction pulls the pulley cord taut about said pulleysand sheave. The frontmost portion 144 of the laterally extending pulleycord passes beneath pins 146 and 148 of sleeve member 36, and is held tothe sleeve member by thumbscrew 150, whereby the position of sleevemember 36 with respect to' a pulley cord maybe set without movement ofthe pulley cord merely by loosening the thumbscrew and sliding thesleeve member to a new position.

Tubular longitudinal measuring member 32 may be made from a length ofsuitable tubing material, such as aluminum, and the longitudinallyextending scales thereon may be provided by wrapping the tubular memberwith a sheet of paper or the like bearing the appropriate scales. Forease of understanding, FIG. 7 depicts the scales carried by the tubularmember in projected form, as the scales might be carried on a sheet ofpaper or the like to be wrapped about the section of tubing. The scalesdepicted in FIG. 7 are each provided with an index number near theleft-hand end 152 (or right-hand end) thereof. As depicted, each scalerepresents distance measurements which are slightly shorter than thoseof the scale next above it. Each scale is thus selected for a certaindegree of foreshortening of the design to be applied to the surface ofthe workpiece 50. By disengaging pin 46 of frame channel 18 and thenrotating the tube, different scales will appear in the viewing window 38of sleeve member 36..

The desired scale is set by rotating the tubular member until thecorrect index number appears opposite mark 154 on flange 20 of themounting frame channel 16. The diameters of sheave 108 and of timinggears 100 and 105 are preferably, but not necessarily, so chosen thatwhen the workpiece 50 is rotated about its axis, the circumferentialdistance measured on the imaginary cylindrical surface about theworkpiece representing the outwardly extending edges of cutting rule isthe same as the actual distance travelled by sleeve member 36 along thetubular elongated measuring member 32. It will be understood, of course,that the diameters of any of sheave 108, and timing gears 100 and 105may be changed, with a corresponding change in the spacing of thelongitudinal scales 34.

Since workpieces vary in diameter from one to another, timing gear 100is made easily replaceable so that the relationship betweencircumferential surface distance on the workpiece to be scribed and thedistance of travel of sleeve 36 along the elongated measuring member 32may be maintained constant by judicious selection of theappropriatetiming gear 100. For example, if a workpiece-having adiameter twice that of the previous workpiece were to be scribed, then atiming gear 100 having twice the number of teeth of the previous timinggear would be employed. Timing gear 100 may be held on shaft 66, forexample, by means of a thumbscrew or the like (not shown) passingthrough the hub of this gear and bearing on the shaft.

In operation, one pre-selects the desired degree of foreshortening androtates the elongated measuring member until the proper scale for theselected degree of foreshortening appears in the window 38 of sleeve 36indicator mark 154 pointing to the proper index number on end 152. Anarbitrary starting point on the workpiece surface (e.g., near the top,left edge thereof) is selected, and the scribe holder and workpiece aremoved so that the scribe is directly upon the chosen starting point.Magnetized tape 94 is affixed magnetically upon shaft 70 so that thezero point of the tape scale is approximately under hairline 88 of thescribe holder 76. Knob 92 of the scribe holder is turned so as toposition the hairline precisely over the zero point on the tape.Thumbscrew 150 of sliding sleeve member 36 is loosened, and the sleevemember is moved along the elongated measuring scale until the zero pointon the scale is precisely beneath hairline 40, whereupon the thumbscrew150 is retightened. Horizontal and circumferential distance values arederived from a pattern of the product to be made. Horizontal distancesare scribed by movement of the scribe holder along the shaft 70,horizontal distances on the pattern translating exactly into horizontaldistances on the magnetized tape 94 as viewed through lens 86.Circumferential distances are scribed on the workpiece by manuallyrotating the workpiece about its axis. Circumferential distances,however, are foreshortened during translation thereof into distancescircumferential of the workpiece 50. If, for example, a verticaldistance of 8.0 inches is derived from the pattern of the finishedproduct, then one rotates the workpiece until the hairline 40 of thesliding sleeve 36 has traversed eight inch indications on the scaleappearing in window 38. The actual distance scribed circumferentially onthe workpiece hence will be somewhat less than eight inches.

It will be understood that a drilling or sawing apparatus as disclosedin US. Pat. No. 3,507,179 is moved out of the way to one end of theshaft during the pattern laying-out operation. It will also beunderstood that changes may be made in the nature of the mechanicalcoupling serving to traverse sleeve 36 along the longitudinal measuringmember in response to rotation of the workpiece.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been givenby way of illustration and example. Changes in form of the elements,rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements whichwill be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claimswhich follow.

We claim:

1. ln an apparatus for laying out a pattern upon an arcuate dieworkpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaft which includes means forphysically applying the pattern to the workpiece,

the improvement which comprises circumferential measuring means forautomatically measuring foreshortened circumferential distances on saidworkpiece, said circumferential measuring means comprising a measuringmember bearing a plurality of different distance scales correspondingrespectively to different degrees of circumferential foreshortening, andindicator means operatively coupled to said workpiece and adapted totraverse said measuring member to indicate design distances thereon inresponse to axial rotation of said arcuate die workpiece.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measuring member comprises anaxially rotatable, elongated tubular member bearing said distance scalesaxially about its circumference, whereby rotation of the tubular memberto a predetermined position affects registration of the indicating meanswith a desired distance scale on the tubular member.

3. In an apparatus for laying out a pattern upon an arcuate dieworkpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaft which includes means forphysically applying the pattern to the workpiece,

the improvement which comprises circumferential measuring means forautomatically measuring foreshortened circumferential distances on theworkpiece surface, said circumferential measuring means comprising alongitudinal measuring member axially bearing a plurality of differentdistance scales about its circumference corresponding respectively todifferent degrees of circumferential foreshortening, indicator meansadapted to traverse said measuring member to indicate design distancesthereon, and motion transmitting means coupling said indicator means andsaid arcuate workpiece and adapted to traverse said indicator meansaxially of said longitudinal measuring member in response to axialrotation of the workpiece.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said longitudinal measuring membercomprises an axially rotatable tubular member bearing said distancescales axially about its circumference, whereby rotation of said tubularmember to a predetermined position affects registration of saidindicating means with a desired scale on said tubular member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said motion transmitting meansincludes a sheave rotatable in response to axial rotation of theworkpiece, and cordage attached to said indicating means in passingabout said sheave, the relationship between said indicating means, saidcordage and said sheave being such as to cause said indicating means totraverse the longitudinal measuring member in response to axial rotationof the workpiece.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 including a timing belt and gearscooperating therewith, one such gear being coupled to and rotatable withsaid workpiece, and a second such gear being coupled operatively to saidindicator means to cause the latter to traverse the longitudinalmeasuring member upon rotation thereof, said gears being joined by saidtiming belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including a sheave coupled to said secondgear and rotatable therewith, and cordage passing about said sheave andjoined to said indicating means whereby said indicating means is causedto traverse the longitudinal measuring member upon rotation of saidsecond gear.

8. In an apparatus for laying out a pattern upon an arcuate dieworkpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaft which includes means forphysically applying the pattern to the workpiece, the improvement whichcomprises circumferential measuring means for automatically measuringforeshortened circumferential distances on the workpiece surface, saidcircumferential measuring means comprising a. A rotatable, elongated,tubular measuring member axially bearing a plurality of differentdistance scales about its circumference corresponding respectively todifferent degrees of circumferential foreshortening;

Indicator means for readout of distances along said axial scales; and

c. motion transmitting means for traversing said indicator means axiallyof said measuring member to indicate design distances thereon inresponse to axial rotation of the arcuate die, said motion transmittingmeans including a sheave, gear means for transmitting rotation of saidworkpiece to said sheave, and cordage means connected to said indicatormeans in passing about said sheave, whereby said indicator means iscaused to traverse said longitudinal measuring member in response toaxial rotation of said workpiece.

1. In an apparatus for laying out a pattern upon an arcuate dieworkpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaft which includes means forphysically applying the pattern to the workpiece, the improvement whichcomprises circumferential measuring means for automatically measuringforeshortened circumferential distances on said workpiece, saidcircumferential measuring means comprising a measuring member bearing aplurality of different distance scales corresponding respectively todifferent degrees of circumferential foreshortening, and indicator meansoperatively coupled to said workpiece and adapted to traverse saidmeasuring member to indicate design distances thereon in response toaxial rotation of said arcuate die workpiece.
 2. The apparatus of claim1 wherein said measuring member comprises an axially rotatable,elongated tubular member bearing said distance scales axially about itscircumference, whereby rotation of the tubular member to a predeterminedposition affects registration of the indicating means with a desireddistance scale on the tubular member.
 3. In an apparatus for laying outa pattern upon an arcuate die workpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaftwhich includes means for physically applying the pattern to theworkpiece, the improvement which comprises circumferential measuringmeans for automatically measuring foreshortened circumferentialdistances on the workpiece surface, said circumferential measuring meanscomprising a longitudinal measuring member axially bearing a pluralityof different distance scales about its circumference correspondingrespectively to different degrees of circumferential foreshortening,indicator means adapted to traverse said measuring member to indicatedesign distances thereon, and motion transmitting means coupling saidindicator means and said arcuate workpiece and adapted to traverse saidindicator means axially of said longitudinal measuring member inresponse to axial rotation of the workpiece.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said longitudinal measuring member comprises an axiallyrotatable tubular member bearing said distance scales axially about itscircumference, whereby rotation of said tubular member to apredetermined position affects registration of said indicating meanswith a desired scale on said tubular member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said motion transmitting means includes a sheave rotatable inresponse to axial rotation of the workpiece, and cordage attached tosaid indicating means in passing about said sheave, the relationshipbetween said indicating means, said cordage and said sheave being suchas to cause said indicating means to traverse the longitudinal measuringmember in response to axial rotation of the workpiece.
 6. The apparatusof claim 3 including a timing belt and gears cooperating therewith, onesuch gear being coupled to and rotatable with said workpiece, and asecond such gear being coupled operatively to said indicator means tocause the latter to traverse the longitudinal measuring member uponrotation thereof, said gearS being joined by said timing belt.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 including a sheave coupled to said second gear androtatable therewith, and cordage passing about said sheave and joined tosaid indicating means whereby said indicating means is caused totraverse the longitudinal measuring member upon rotation of said secondgear.
 8. In an apparatus for laying out a pattern upon an arcuate dieworkpiece mounted upon a rotatable shaft which includes means forphysically applying the pattern to the workpiece, the improvement whichcomprises circumferential measuring means for automatically measuringforeshortened circumferential distances on the workpiece surface, saidcircumferential measuring means comprising a. A rotatable, elongated,tubular measuring member axially bearing a plurality of differentdistance scales about its circumference corresponding respectively todifferent degrees of circumferential foreshortening; b. Indicator meansfor readout of distances along said axial scales; and c. motiontransmitting means for traversing said indicator means axially of saidmeasuring member to indicate design distances thereon in response toaxial rotation of the arcuate die, said motion transmitting meansincluding a sheave, gear means for transmitting rotation of saidworkpiece to said sheave, and cordage means connected to said indicatormeans in passing about said sheave, whereby said indicator means iscaused to traverse said longitudinal measuring member in response toaxial rotation of said workpiece.